Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-11

steel barrels and silver mountlngS gilt
tered in the fast increasing morning
light. The actors in this terribly quiet
affair appeared cool and calm, especially
the count, who bore himself with superb
dignity and grace.
The word was given. Two sharp ex-
plosions followed in quick succession;
but the count was swifter than his an
tagonist, and sent ball crashing through
his breast. This caused Farnwell's missile
to fly wide of its mark. The young man
did not fall; he scarcely staggered, but
it was plain that be was hit. He insisted,
kOwever, with writhing, purpling lips, on
having another shot at once. This could
not be denied him, as he stood firmly on
his feet and did not let muscle relax.
The empty pistols were quickly ex
changed for a loaded pair and the men
resumed their places. Again the word,
and again the counts bullet was too
swift and sure for Farnwell, who fell anu
expired before the surgeon could reach
him.
1t woulG seem that nothing could be
done when, like an awful rosary, the
words Zone, two three" were being told,
carriage was driven to the spot at reck-
less speed, end young woman flung
herself out and tried to interpose her
lissome form between the foes.
"Stop! command you. Stop" she
cried, stretching forth her arms and turn
ing her lovely face, flaming white with
excitement, toward the count. The cry
availed not He fired swiftly, deliberate
ly, as if he had not heard.
The realists object to any sympathiz
ing with ones characters, and still more
to any sympathjzing with ones land
scapes. They do not tolerate free-hand
sketcbing, or broad impressions, or ten
der illusions, or heavy dashes of color.
Everything must be stippled and cross
Matched, and worked down to the dead
level of photograph, and so left; but
| ask the reader to help me with his ina
gination, as he chances with sympathetic
eyes, first at the frame and then at the
picture. There is the breezy bay, yonder
the sunrise splendors, here the little grove
on the bluff, far away, as it appears, the
gray-roofed and eple-pierced city.
Now see the group of figures slzetched in
the near foreground with the outlines of
their forms so strong and sharp against
the sand, the low wiregrass, and water.
How fragrant and salty sharp the air.
and how tenderly it rustles the leaves.
But there is something dark here, some
thing that sends a shudder up to heaven.
The men are silent, and for a while they
stand glaring at each other over that
CHASTITY and red-stained form lying there.
1t is b. a moment. The young woman
clasps her hands and utters a strange
sound. They all look at her, as if Just
now aware of her presence, and it is terri
BILE to see the pale horror of death re-
HOo +O1
for an impression of morning in the
sweetest climate and On the fairest spot
of earth! A surgeon and second bend
over the fallen man and touch him. He
is dead. The count turns but that one
glance upon the young woman. Such a
look! No word is spoken. Very soon all
the carriages are driven away, each by a
different route.
The little grove on the bluff is deserted.
There is dash of blood on a wisp of
wiregrass; there are some footprints in
the whitish sand, and just trace of helI's
sulphurous fume-the faint odor of pis-
tol-smoke- fingers on the air. Such was
the field of honor City years ago.
".
To Rose Jourdon the rumor of the i'm
pending duel came like a deadly watt.
Her maid brought it to her. In those
days confidential slaves knew every thing.
They helped each other. Gossip -circula-
ted among them with strange celebrity.
They were as true to their masters and
mistresses as they were cunning and
facile in procuring information. Just
at the gray of dawn the maid knocked on
mitted she hurriedly told the chill news.
Tn i,,I
Rose had reason tc remember her, for
she had caused the only dark ripple on
the surface of experience in Roses life.
It was at a fashionable theatre on the
continent. The count sat by Roses side.
Mile. Dupree appeared on the stage and
was greeted with thundero1s applause.
The count locked, started, grew pale, put
his hand upon his heart and showed every
sign of sudden and overwhelming emo
tion. Rose could not help seeing and
knowing that Mile. Dnpree was the
cause of this; but the count soon got the
mastery of himself and so eloqNently ex
planned that he was victim of angina
pecSog-is, and so gracefully made light of
the malady, that the girls heart was salts
fied-almost.
Now. here was Nile. Dupree again, and
here was duel in her behalf. The con-
clusioa was as simple as it was terrible.
Rose Jourdon sprang from her couch
and acted promptly upon the first i'm
preston of duty. There was no time to
lose, and this deadly meeting must be
prevented if possible. She remembered
seeing the count shoot with a pistol in a
gallery as Florence. The rhythm1cal reg
ularity Of the markers call after each
shot signifying center hit, now echoed
in her mind. Her young friend Farewell
should not be murdered on account of
that won an if she could prevent it.
We have seen how she failed IN her
desperate though laudable effort.
She did not see the count again He
Immediately fed the city and country.
He could not stay in Mobile.
Mile. Dapree gained great deal of
notoriety III America, bEt she was of q
class OF actresses never fully tolerated by
our people. She went back to Europe
and soon fell into utter ebscurity.
For time the duel was the caase Of
much gloom and sadness in MOBILE, bus
| the cloud passed, as such clouds mast, as
| if dissipated by the persistent sharp fall
breeze from the gulf.
| Rose yourdon never resumed her place